AFL set to scrap match review panel with Michael Christian installed as match review officer
THE AFL’s three strikes policy for minor offences is gone, fines are up and there is a new table of offences under a radical overhaul of the match review panel. See all the details here.
THE AFL has radically overhauled the Match Review Panel system with clubs now able to challenge suspensions more easily.
And the panel has been abandoned, with Michael Christian to adjudicate on all incidents in much quicker fashion.
Christian – who has previously held a position on the Laws of the Game committee and MRP - will assume the role of match review officer with judgment on incidents now no longer reserved for Mondays.
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Christian will be bound by the new table of classifiable offences, with any decision reached to be ratified by league football operations boss Steve Hocking.
For Thursday night games, the adjudication on any incident will be communicated by 5pm on Friday, and for Friday night incidents by 5pm on Saturday.
Incidents arising from Saturday and Sunday games will still be assessed on Mondays.
Any AFL Tribunal hearing will still be held on the subsequent Tuesday night.
Hocking on Thursday described the wholesale changes as “significant”.
NO early guilty plea discount will be available to players who are suspended, with the formerly discounted sanctions now set as the base sanction.
LOW-level offences will still attract a fine, but financial sanctions have been significantly increased. The base sanction for a first offence has doubled from $1500 to $3000, a second offence attracting a $5000 fine and third and subsequent offences resulting in an $8000 fine. An early guilty plea will reduce the financial impost on players.
IF a club challenges a ban and fails, it must pay $10,000 – included in its soft football department cap - to the AFL.
UNDER the former system, three financial sanctions would automatically trigger a one-week suspension. This has now been removed.
THE automatic bad record application has been removed.
Hocking immediately launched a review of the system when he took the job at the end of the season, and said that after much work with clubs, he believes the league has landed in a “mature place”.
“In my time in the role, I think it’s really important to lead,” he said.
“(The new system) is a statement. And I’m OK with that.
“I know that we won’t have total agreeance right throughout, but that’s my responsibility. I’ve got to do what’s right for 18 clubs and do what’s right for the fans. I think fans will take a lot of comfort out of this and I think clubs will as well.”
He said that appointing a single decision-maker – who will not be permitted to undertake any regular media commitments in 2018 – allows for the expedition of charges and allows for clarity on decisions.
He rejected the suggestion that decisions being ratified by him will create a conflict, and said that he is “calling out” the previous perception of staunch independence of the panel.
“It’s OK to actually sit in this role and accept responsibility,” he said.
“My preference is Michael Christian owns this, and that’s the agreement that is in place.
“There’s so many ways through this and a lot more clarity. It sits with Michael and then beyond that, you refer it to the tribunal.
“We think it will actually help fans. We’ll have a single decision-maker, and that person will report through to me.”
The AFL Tribunal and AFL Appeals Board process will remain the same.
Hocking also said that the expedited process will remove “anxiety” for players awaiting their fate across an entire weekend, and that in the near future there could be decisions communicated on Sundays.
Former panel members have been offered the opportunity to join the tribunal panel.
Players have also been put on notice.
The new system was formulated to reduce the number of players missing games due to low-level offences, but Hocking said players must clean up their act.
“We want the players to change their behaviour,” he said.
“Some of those incidents (we saw last year) … we need the players to get back to a greater understanding of sportsmanship within the game. Some of those offences at that lower level are just a blight on the game and we want them cleaned up.
“Hence, the players are going to cop a larger fine off the back of this change.
“It is a significant change, but it allows them to continue to play. They need to clean up … a little more discipline won’t hurt.”
He said there had been no ill-ease from the AFL Players’ Association about the increased financial sanctions.
Hocking said that providing clubs with an easier pathway to challenge suspensions was important, and anticipates more challenges in 2018.
“Now, rather than not challenging which has been the case … you get the ability to test that at the tribunal,” he said.
“We got to a stage where clubs and players were frustrated.
“If it was right on the cusp … players were just accepting because they didn’t want an extra week.
“The club needs the ability to be able to challenge it (without further penalty).”
Hocking anticipates more challenges at the tribunal next season.
Hocking conceded that the delineation between the AFL and the panel had been “grey” and he did not shy away from the fact he will work closely with Christian, who said bringing the judicial system “back under the AFL umbrella” was crucial to his acceptance of the position.
The AFL Tribunal and appeals system remain independent bodies.
Christian conceded that the pressure of being the sole person responsible for handing down suspensions had “absolutely” occurred to him.
“That was part of considering the role to assess all those sorts of things.
“The fact that it’s been brought back in the AFL banner will be an important part of things.
“I’ve really enjoyed being part (of the MRP) for the last three years. Yes, it’s a step up, but it’s a role that I’m really looking forward to doing.”
Christian promised transparency, and said that he knows his role will attract criticism at times.
“I’m going to be doing the absolute best that I can do,” he said.
“I’m sure during the year that not everyone will agree with every decision, but I’m going to be available to talk ... and try and explain at least the reasons why decisions have been arrived at.
“I want to be clear and transparent about why decisions are made.”
The former Collingwood player has held a long presence in football media, and he said it was “very” tough to step away from his range of roles, which was a requirement of his new position.
“I’ve been calling football for 21 years on radio and television and it’s been most enjoyable,” he said.
“But this is a really important role and a really exciting role. It took a lot of thought but I’m excited about the years to come.”
Originally published as AFL set to scrap match review panel with Michael Christian installed as match review officer